It’s been approximately a month since the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) 2013 conference wrapped up in Las Vegas. At the show, we spoke to many business aircraft operators and found that many had common questions regarding various operational topics. Below is a compilation of articles on some of the most frequently discussed topics from the show.

1. Aircraft importation into the European Union (EU)

There are two forms of aircraft importation into the EU: permanent importation and temporary admission (TA), also known as temporary importation (TI). Each of these types of importation has certain requirements that must be met. For a complete breakdown of what’s needed for either option, please see our articles below:

2. European Union Trading System (EU-ETS) changes

EU-ETS was launched in 2005 and has required General Aviation (GA) to track emissions, go through the process of verification, and make applicable payments. However, there have been recent changes in the European Commission stance, where "small emitters" may be able to delay CO2 emission verification and payments. For the latest news on EU-ETS, please see our articles:

3. UK Air Passengers Duty (UK APD) requirements

Effective April 1, 2013, the UK government requires collection of UK APD charges for all applicable GA operational legs. There are specific payment rates to consider depending on the appropriate band. Also, there are exemptions for some operations. For a complete analysis on UK passenger duty requirements, please see our article:

4. Value Added Tax (VAT) exemptions on aviation fuel in the EU

Though the EU has published EU Directive 148 for all 27 states, rules and procedures differ from country to country. This is due to latitude given to individual EU member states to add or remove from this directive. VAT exemptions are available for both private non-revenue and charter (non-scheduled commercial) operators. To find out the latest information regarding such exemptions, please see our articles on the blog:

5. Planning for the Winter Games in 2014

With the Winter Games taking place February 7-23, 2014, there any many parameters to consider when planning your trip. Some of these considerations include landing permits, aircraft parking, airport slots, and visas. Note that there are stringent restrictions regarding ability of an aircraft to remain in Sochi (URSS). It’s important to stay abreast of all updates regarding this event. For the latest information, please see our articles:

6. Planning for the Brazil World Cup in 2014

The next World Cup takes place June 12-July 13, 2014. There are many requirements to consider when traveling to Brazil during this busy time period. Many airport slot and prior permissions required have yet to be determined. However, aircraft parking will be at a premium, so it’s best to start planning for this event now. If the primary destinations are not available for aircraft parking, you may want to consider alternate airports. Hotels will be in high demand so it’s best to request any required accommodations now. For more information on this event, please take a look at our articles:

Over the coming months, more information will be published, which you will be able to find on our blog

Conclusion

The above list covers the most popular questions we received during the NBAA conference. However, if you have other questions you’d like answers to, please contact us at operationalinsight@univ-wea.com.

An FAA-Licensed Dispatcher, Christine Vamvakas is an expert in all areas of trip support services, including TSA Waivers, international visa requirements, aircraft fuel ranges, operations in Greece, and charter operations throughout Europe. A native of Greece, Christine is fluent in Greek and has more than a decade’s experience working in trip support services with Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. Having served as Master Trip Owner and Team Lead for Universal’s Charter Management Team, Christine has facilitated thousands of international trip legs and uses that experience in her role as Universal’s Operations Communications Manager. Christine holds a bachelor of science degree in business management and a master’s degree in business administration. Her expert commentary has been included in multiple business aviation publications. You can reach Christine at christinevamvakas@univ-wea.com.